Cultivator attachment for tractors



Nov. 16 1926.

B. R. BENJAMIN ET-AL CULTIVATOR ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS riginal Filed July 21. 1922 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 16 1926.

f l B. R. BENJAMIN Er AL cULTIvAToR ATTACHMENT FOR TRAcToas s sheets-sheet a original Filed July 21. 1922 Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

JUNI-TED STATES y f 1,607,230 PATENT OFFICE. l

BERT R. BENJAMIN, OF OAK PARK, AND CLI'EMMA R. RANEY AND ARNOLD E. W. JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. ASSIGNORS TO INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CULTIVATOR ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS.

Application led July 21, 1922, Serial This invention relates to soil workin attachments for tractors and `is particu arly directed to provision of a cultivator attachment for tractors of the three wheel rigid unitary frame type with one wheel forwardly and centrally disposed and carried on a steering truck.

The principal object of the invention is to combine 'with tliat type of tractor, a cultlvator attachment to be carried on the front of the tractor in such position that the cultivator beams will be disposed at each side of the steering truck with the shovels to the rear of the axis of the truck wheels and preferably within the outer edges of the paths of treads of the rear traction wheels which v should be set far enough apart to permit a pair of cultivator beams to be employed on 'each' side of the steering truck so that two rows of plants'may be worked at once, the position of the cultivator attachment at the front of the tractor permitting employment of other implements, coupled to the rear of the tractor, simultaneously with the cultivator.

-Another object of the invention is to provide a structure easily attachable and detachable from the tractor and one in which the tool carrying beams and frame support therefor can *be shifted laterally and bodily as a unit relative to the unitary tractor frame to follow the deviations inthe plant rows and can be lifted or lowered by control means in convenient distance of the operators seat on the tractor.

A further object is to provide the attach- A ment with a type of lift for the cultivator beams that will permit them to be raised to positions where they will be 4entirely out of the way so that the attachment can be allowedvto remain on the tractor .without interfering with its travel or its use for other purposes than cultivating.

It is also an object of the invention toso dispose certain of the cultivating tools that the ground over whlch the steering wheel has passed will be thoroughly worlce These principal and other minor objects are accomplished by providing, as a support for the cultivator beams, a comparatively longmember extending across the front of the tractor and having attaching means, such as pivoted arms at its center, which are hingedly mounted in sockets at each side of /tachment for lateral shiftm the beams are lowered and 1s disconnected No. 576,481. Renewed July 1e, 1925.

the steering truck. Shifting means connect the supporting memberwith the truck so that it shares in its steering movement and the cultiva-tor beams arc attached to the ends of the member at each side of the truck. The beams are raised and lowered by novel mechanism comprising a control rod extending to the rear of the tractor which rod is so connected to the beams at spaced points in their len th as to provide a high and levelflift, an means is provided whereby the steering truck becomes connected to the cultivator ataction when when the beams are raised. The inventlon accordingly resides in the combination, de''.70. tails of construction, and parts, or their equivalents, -hereinafter described and particularly dened in the claims.

Referring to the drawings- Fig. 1 is a side view of a tractor with the cultivator attachment mounted thereon,the tractor being shown in 'broken lines and the parts. comprising the invention in full lines;

Fig. 2 is a plan view similarly drawn;

Fig. 3 is a front detail view, of the attachment;

. Fig. 4 is a similar side view;

Fig-5 is a detail of the beam lifting connection; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are details of a latch for the laterally swinging arms of the attachment.

The tract-or with which the cultivator' at; tachment is combined as illustrated. in broken lines in Figs. 1 and 2, is of the type havino a comparatively narrow main frame 9U or bo y 10 supported on widely spaced rear traction wheels 11 and on a single centrally positioned steering truck 12 supported on the wheel 13 .which may be single or double as referred. The steerin truck has a verltical spindle 14 journaled'ln the front cross ly and the members are secure Aso the drawings and the inner ends received in the sojkets may be retained therein by anymsuitable means such as the collars 21. Tfhe outer ends of the arms 21 are journaled in verticalQ sockets in clamp brackets 22 where they are retained by collars 21b as at their rear ends. Each of the arms 21 is preferably braced by a pair of members 21 which enga e the upturned rearend of each arm. The iwer members diver e forwardto the u turned forward ends above and below t 1e sockets in clamps 22, as in Fig. 4. The clamp brackets 22 receive the central portion of an elongated, transversely extending frame member 23 which is referably of the tubular form illustrated. the member 23 there is fixedly secured a rearwardly and upwardly inclined plate 24 to which a second rearwardly extending late or bar 25 is pivotally connected by a olt 26 which extends through a short slot 25a therein. At its rear end, the bar 25 is bent u wardly and then backwardly as at 25b an engages the upper end of the spindle 14 of the truck ,under the gear sector 16 as shown in Fig. 4. The gear sector 16 is extended in one direction to form an angular flange or track 27 and bar 25 has slidably mounted on it, back of the track 27, a latch member 28 which is spring pressed toward the track by a spring 29 and has a forwardly projecting nose 28 adapted to engage an opening 3Q in the vertical web of track 27, this opening being so positioned that when the nose 28a is engaged therein, the steering truck and wheel will be in position for straight ahead travel. On the outer ends of the cross member 23, clamp brackets 31 are secured which are counterparts of the brackets 22 all of which are 4provided with integral depending members 32, thus providing a pair of rifrid depending arms at each side of the steerlng truck which -are adjustably clamped to the transverse member 23 and form part of the sppporting frame for the cultivator beams. In the lower ends of each pair of depending arms 32 there is journaled the horizontal ends of upwardly arched crank shafts 33 and on these horizontal ends there is secured a pair of rearwardly extending draft `elements or brackets 34 in the ends of which are mounted wrist pins 35 to which the front ends of cultivator beams 36 arepivotally connected. Each pair of beams is, therefore, ad-k jacent one 'side of the centrally positioned truck and extends rearwardly thereof embracing its wheel and placing the cultivating tools back of its axis, and, as the tools. or shovels, on each pair of beams are disposedin divergent ranks, the shovels on the inner beams will be on lines converging back of the truck with the rear shovels located in the tread of itsA wheel or wheels.

\ or cranked t the middle of 'Ifo the central part of the upwardlyarched portion-'of the shafts .33 there is pivoted tie forward ends of operating rods 37 which extend rearwardly and a're flattened at their rear ends as at 37. These flattened ends are slotted as at 37h to receive the outwardlybent end of as ring pressed pawl o r latch 38 which is sli ably mounted in a lug 39 on the inner side of the' flattened portion of rodsV 37. After passing through `the slot 37", the end 0f latch 38 engages in an operating lever 40 pivoted on a sector bracket 42 mounted on the rear axle housing of the tractor which has a pinion 41 mounted on it in position to engage the sector 42 in the usual manner, the pinion 41 being locked in adjusted p'osition b the ordinary spring pressed latch 43 on tie lever. The construction just described provides for accurate adjustment of 'the depth of cultivation and also gives a yielding connection between the operating lever and the rod so that yielding pressure sides by the truss members 44 as shown in Fig. 1. Each pair of the cultiva'tor beams 36 is connected near its rear ends by a spreader arch 45 which may be made in two sec- 4t-ions adjustably connected to each other and to a supporting bracket 46 by a bolt 47 as shown in Fig. 5. At a point intermediate 4 its ends, each rod. 37 has'secured to it a collar 48 which has a depending lug 49y which is -received between upstanding ears 46 on the bracket 46, the two being connected by a boltor pin 49E. Each collar '48 is also provided at its top with an 'eye 48a which serves to receive the rearI end of tension spring 50., the other end of which is secured t0 an eye on the member 23 the function of which is to assist in lifting the beams. It will be evident from the construction described that as the operating rod 37 is moved back and foith by the lever 40 the crankshaft 33 will be swung and the rearwardly extending` brackets 34, which are at right angles to the crank or arch of axles 33, will move upwardly and downwardly thereby raising and lowering the front ends of the pair of cultivator beams attached thereto. At the same'tirne the spreader arch supporting the rear ends of the beams will move forward and backward with the operating rod by reaon of its connection thereto and the rear ends of the beams will be raised and lowered in unison controlling the latch 28 as the beams are raised and lowered, there is provided a double crank shaft 51 journaled on the forward face of the member 23, which shaft has one dotted lines on Fig. 1. VFor the purpose of A formed with an eye at its end in which is pivoted the outer `end of a latch operating rod 52 which has its rear end slidably attached to a depending lug 28b on .latch 28. A spring 53 carried on this rod between the lug 28b and a stop onthe rod serves to keep the shaft 51 swung into position for engagement by shaft 83 but the thrust of spring l53 is suiiicient to move latch 28 against pressure of spring 29 when the rod 52 moves backwardly. As means for limiting the lateral swinging movement of the pivoted arms 21, there is provided a bar 54, v(Fig. 2)-

which isl connected to the upper brace bar 21 in proximity to the inner pivot of one member 21 and extends diagonally outwardy to near the outer pivot of the other member where it engages a pin or bolt 55 on'the opposite brace member 21. The lbolt 55 Vworks in a slot 54 -in bar 54 and a latch member 56 is pivoted on bolt 55 and is held down by a spring 57, (Fig. 7) which bears downwardly on the rlatch member 56 and it is desired 'to lock the cultivator vattachment against any lateral movement, as when the beams aire raised and the cultivator is not being used, -the llatch 56 can be swung into positionparallel with the bar 54 when the pin 58will engage opening 59 and lock the parts in position'. On the other hand,

when the latch 56 is swung around as in Fig.

2, the cultivator attachment will be free to swing laterally to a degree limited by the length of slot 54a which likewise 4limits the steering movement of the truck when the cultivator is in operation. the range of movement allowed being ample for following the rows.

'With the construction and arrangement above described. it will be evident that a cultivator attachment isv provided which, when in position, provides a two-row tractor culti-vator characterized by the fact that the front wheel is embraced by or positioned between the two pairs of` c ultivator beams so that a row of plants is stfraddled by the beams on each side of the steering truck or wheel. and the further fact that the rear wheels are in the spaces outside the two rows being cultivated so that the plants will pass under the rear axle, and also by. the fact that the inner beam of each pair is so positioned -with respect tothe front wheel that certain of the cultivatingtools will-work adjacent the sides and in the path of the .wheel so that the ground over which the front wheel has passed is thoroughly cultivated and -no packed'wheel track is left.` A further characteristic of the construction'is Athat when the cultivatorbeams are in lowered position, the latchl 28 lwill be in engagement with the opening in the web of track 27 and consequently the bar 25 will-be swung laterally when the truck is steered to the right or left and, through the pivotal connection of bar 25 with the plate 24'ony member 23,-the cultivator attachment as a whole will share in the lateral movement of the steering truck to an extent limited by the length of slot 54u as beforestated. Whenthe beams are raised, theswinging of crank shaft 51 will push latch 28 backwardly and the-steering-truck will then be free to be turned lto-any desired extent'fr directing the'travel of the tractor.

There has' accordingly been provided a cultiva-toi' attachment which :is simple in construction and adapted for attachment to any tractor of the type above referred to and one which will .be easy to guide during Ioperation and which is's'o positioned with relation to the drivers seat that the operator on the tractor can at all times see, the rows being cultivatedl and can easily guide the machine as necessary to follow deviations in the rows. The absence of front carrying wheels located at the outer sides of the beams and close to the adjacent'plant rows, as common in the prior art, allows greater range of lateral movement in guiding the cultivator for the reason that the central wheel is'midway between two rows while wheels on the outer sides must ord-i*- narily travel close to the next outside'rows` with consequent risk of running over them` while guiding. Moreover, with the outer wheels and the supporting structure for them absent, the drivers view of adjacent plant rows is unobstructed, and accurate guiding of vthe machine is thereby greatly facilitated.

While a preferred form of the, invention I is here described by way of example. it is understood that changes are possible in the details of construction -within the scope of the following claims.4

We claimv 1. The combination with a vehicle having a centrally positioned front truck. of cultivating means comprising a transversely extending support positioned in advance of.

the truck and connected to the vehicle by means permitting the support to be shifted laterally, tool beams attached to the support at each side of the truck and' reaching to the rear of the, truck, and cultivating tools on the ends o'f the beams.'

2. The combination with a vehicle having a centrally ositioned front steering truck and mea-ns ory steering the truck, of cultivating'means comprising a transversely ex tending support connected to the vehicle in advance of the truck by means permitting the support to be shifted laterally, tool beams attached to the support at each side of the truck and reaching to the rear of the truck, cultivating tools on the ends of the beams, and-means connecting the transverse support and truckfor shiftmg it laterally by steering movement of the truck.

3. The combination with a vehicle having a centrally ositioned front steering truck and means or steering the truck, of a forwardly projecting, laterally swinging extension on the front of the vehicle, a transversely extending support carried by said extension, tool beams attached to said support at each side of said truck, and means cooperating with the steering means for swinging said extension laterally.

4. The combination with a vehicle havlng a narrow longitudinally extending frame supported at one end on a cent-rally positioned wheel, of a transversely extending supporting member carried on said frame in advance of the wheel and projecting `beyond the frame on both sides, a pair of cultivator beams on each end of the supporting member extending rearwardly and embracing the supporting wheel, and cultivating tools on the ends of the beams.

5. The combination with a vehicle having a centrally positioned front steeringtruck and means for steering the truck, of. a forwardly projecting, laterally swinging extension on the front of the vehicle, `means for limiting the movement of said extension, a transversely extending sup ort carried by saidl extension, tool beams plvoted onsaid support at each side of the truck, means for ralsing and lowering the tool beams, means cooperating with the steering means for swinging said extension laterally including a releasable connection, and ,means fory automatically releasing said Qconnection as the tool beams are raised.

6. The combination with a vehicle having a centrally positioned front steering truck and means for steering the truck, of parallel forwardly extending pivoted arms on the front of the vehicle, a transversely extending support to which said arms are pivoted at their forward ends, tool beams attached to the support at each side of the truck, and a releasable connection between the truck and transverse supportfor causing the support to shift laterally when the truck is steered.

7. The combination with a vehicle having a central front wheel, ot cultivating means comprising tool beams positioned on each side of said wheel with theirI forward ends attached to the vehicle in advance of said wheel with their free ends to the rear thereof, one beam on each side having its toolsv arranged to cultivate the yground directly behind said wheel. l 8. 'lhe combination with a tractor'having three supporting Wheels one of which is po- Y wheels with their forward ends attached to vsaid support, each pair positioned to straddle a row of plants.

9. The combination with a vehicle having two main supporting wheels, a steering truck positioned ahead of and midway between them and means for steering said truck, of a support carried by the tractor in advance of said truck, cultivating means comprising pairs of tool beams positioned on the opposite sides of the truck and inside the tread of the main wheels, with their forward ends connected to said support, each pair of beams being positioned -to straddle a row of plants and mea-ns connecting said transverse support to the steering means for shifting it laterally by steering movement of said truck.

. 10. A cultivator attachment for tractors having a central steering wheel comprising an elongated frame member, means on the member for connecting it across the front of a tractor, and a pair of cultivator beams attached to cach end of said member inY position to drag' at each side of the tractor and embrace said steering wheel` when-the attachment is mounted thereon.

11. A cultivator attachment for tractors having a central steering wheel, comprising an elongated frame member, laterally projecting pivot arms thereon adapted to be connected to the front of a tractor to position said member across the front thereof, means on said member adapted to cooperate with actuating means on the tractor for shifting said member laterally on its pivot arms, and a pair ofv cultivator beams attached to each end of said member in position to drag at each side of the tractor and embrace said steering wheel when the attachment is mounted thereon.

12. In a cultivator, the combination of a supporting member having a pair of depend- 1ng'arms, an upwardly arched crank shaft having horizontal portions journaled in said arms, rearwardly projecting members on the maA motoso arm, a crank pvoted on said arm and having a rearwardly extending member fixed` thereon, a cultivat'or beam pivoted on the end of said member, a rearwardly extendoperating rod `pivoted to said crank, a lilix connecting the cultivator beam to an intermediate portion of said rod, and ad- Ajusting mechanism connected the operatmg rod for shifting it longitudinally.

14. The combination with a tractor .1ncluding a front steering wheel, of supportin elements projectin from the tractor ahea of the steering w eel, a cultivator attachment com rising a air of cultivator beams positione at each side of the steermg wheel with their forward ends connected to said sup orting elements, certain of the tools on said) beams being located at the sides of and behind said wheel.

15. The combinationy with a tractor 1n cluding a front steering wheel, of a cultivator attachment comprisin a transversely extending supporting mem er connected tol the tractor by members extending in advance of the tractor and movable laterally with respect thereto, an upri ht arch sup orted beneath of sai member, an a-pair of cultivator beams connected to the branches of each arch in position to straddle a row of plants at each side `of the steering wheel.

16. The combination with a tractor 1ncluding a front steering wheel, of ysupporting elements projectin ahead of the steering w eel, a cultivator attachment comprising a pair -of cultivator beams positioned at each side of the steering wheel with their forward ends connected to said supporting elements, and cultivating tools on said beams located at points behind the axis of said wheel..

17. The combination with a tractor havinga forward steering wheel, of a bearin member on the tractor frame at each side o said wheel, forwardly extendingarms hav- .ing vertical bearing portions Journaled in on widely spaced rear traction wheels and a centrally disposed steering truck at the front end, the combination of a supporting member extending laterally across the front end of the tractor frame, earth working tools carried by said supporting member, said tools being arranged on opposite sides of the steering truck, and means for steering the truck, said supportin member and earth working tools being odil and laterally shiftable as a unit relatively to the tractor v frame and differentially with respect to the steerin truck.

19. n a tractor having a frame carried from the tractor on tractionwheels and a steering truck, ythe combinationv of a transversely extending .supporting member shftably mounted on frame and differentially with respect to the truck.

20. The combination with a vehicle having a 'central steerable front wheel, of1at-' erally shiftable cultivating devices embracing said wheel andV carried by the vehicle, and manuell hicle for bot .steering the front wheel and shifting the cultivating devices relatively to the `frameand differentially with respect to the steerable wheel.

21. The combination with a unitary tractor including a central front wheel and widely spaced rear traction wheels and a frame connecting and supported by said wheels, of earth working tools hun from the tractor frame at its front end, said tools being disposed on opposite sides ofthe central front'wheel, and means for bodily and laterally shifting said tools as a unit with respect to the tractor frame anddiferentially with respect to the central wheel.

22. In a tractor having a frame carried on traction wheels and a steering truck, the combination of a transversely extending supporting member carried on the forward portion of the tractor frame and rejecting laterally of the truck, earth worEing tools 'carriedl by said supporting member, and a common control' means comprising a hand wheel for anglin the truck to steer the tractor and bodily ti ing member and earth Working tools'in the same direction as a unit relativel to the tractor frame anddiiferentially with respect to the truck.

23. The combination with a tractor having a narrow longitudinally extending body with lateral axle extensions at the rear supported on widely spaced traction` wheels, a narrow tread steering truck at the forward end of the body and a control station on the rear portion of the tractor, of' cultivating implements located on each sideof the longitudinal body of the tractor having earth working tools positioned to engage the ground in advance of the traction wheels and back ofthe forward end of said body, certainy of said tools being located on transverse lines passing through the steering truck, sup orting means for said implements carried by the forward art of said body and extending laterally eyond each side of the truck, the cultivating impleerewith shift the support--l controlled means on the ve- I ments trailing'from said lateral'extensions,

and means for controlling operation of the cultivating implements operable from th control station of the tractor.

24. The combination with a tractor, of

Y brackets on vertical pivots, an implement supporting frame extending across the front of the tractor to which the outer ends of said arms are pivoted on vertical axes, and means for shifting said frame and larms laterally during travel of the tractor.

26. A cultivator attachment for tractors comprising an elongated tubular member, means for connecting said member across the front of a tractor and spaced in advance thereof, a pair of cultivator beams pivotally carried b each end of said member,- and lifting and owering means therefor includin vertically swinging crank arms also mounte on said member and connected to the beams,

said lifting and lowering means having actuating means including an element adapted to extend to the drivers station on the tractor.

v27. The combination with a tractor, of a cultivator attachment comprising supporting means projecting in advance of the tractor, atransversely extending member carried on the forward end of saidv supporting means and projecting laterall beyond each side of the tractor, .vertically s iftable tool carrying beams sup orted on each end of said member in poslton to work a plant row at each side of the longitudinal median line of the tractor, and means for lifting and lowering the beamsr including crank arms pivotally supported on said transverse member and having free ends connected to said tool beams, and actuating means for swinging said crank arms vertically.

28. The combination with a tractor, of a cultivator attachment comprising supporting means projecting in advance of the tractor, a transversely extending member carried on the forwardsend of said supporting means and projecting laterally beyond each side of the tractor, vertically shiftable tool carrying beams supported on each end of said member in position to work a plant row ateachside of the longitudinal median line of the tractor, and -means for liftingand lowering the beams including bearing arms secured to the transverse member and extending therefrom, crank arms supported between the ends of sai bearing arms and havin free ends connected to the tool beams an means for swinging thej crank arms on said bearin arms.

29. The combination witg a tractor, of a `cultivator attachment comprising sup ortthe ing means projectin in advance o tractor, a transverse y' lextending ltubular supporting mciiber carried on the forward end of said supporting means and projecting laterally vbeyndeach side of the tractor, a pair of spaced bearing arms clamped on each end o said'itubular member and extending therejfrom; a pair of crank-arms mounted between each pair of bearing arms, tool carryin lbeams connected to the crankarms an li t actuating means connected to the crank-arms and beams.

v 30. Acultivator attachment for tractors (pivotally i :asl

comprising/a frame member, means for detachably securing said frame member across the forward end of a tractor shovel supporting beams connected to said member, a rearwardly extending member carried 'by each end of said frame member, and attaching means on thel rear ends of said rearwardly extending members adapted to be mount- 'ed on the rear axle structure of a tractor.

31. The combination with a tractor having two main supportingwheels, a Steerin truck positioned ahead of and between sai wheels and mean's for turning the truck, of a cultivator attachment comprising pairs of tool beams positioned on opposite sides of the truck and inside the'tread of the main wheels with their forward ends connected to a transversely extending frame member carried by the tractor in advance of the turningv axis of the truck, and a rearwardl extending frame member carried by eacli end of said transverse frame member and mounted on the rear axle structure of the tractor. v

32. The combination with a tractor having a narrow longitudinall extending body with lateral extensions at t e rear supported on widely spaced traction wheels, a narrow tread steering truck, and means 'for steering the truck wheels, of cultivator beams positioned at each side of the steering truck with forward ends connected to supporting elements projecting laterally at each side 'of the tractor in, advance of the' steering truck, cultivating tools on said beams located ahead of the traction wheelsand 'to the rear of the truck wheels, and additional earth working tools positioned to engage the soil in the track ofthe truck wheels.

l33. A cultivatorattachment for tractors having a longitudinally extending body with front and rear supporting means, said at- .tacliment comprising a long frame member provided with means for mounting it across the front end of the tractor body forward of izo the front supporting means with its ends' projecting laterally beyond each side of the tractor' body and of the front supporting means, a pair of trailing cultivator beams.

connected to each end of said frame member and adapted to drag at each side of the tractorebody and front supporting means,

said beams being constructed to extend to points back of the front supporting means but forward of the rear supporting means when the attachment is on the tractor, and

means included inthe attachment-for per# .mittinff the cultivator beams to be shifted laterally with 'respect' to thetractor and front-supporting means during travel ofthe tractor.' i v In testimony whereof We affix. our signatiires.

BERT R. BENJAMIN.- l CLEMMA'R. RANEY.

' ARNOLDA E. W. JOHNSON;v 

